Courtesy of UMDNJDr. Robert Johnson has been appointed to continue as permanent dean of UMDNJ.

NEWARK — After nearly six years and two national searches, New Jersey Medical School has a new dean — and he’s a familiar face.

Robert Johnson, who has served as interim dean since 2005, was named the permanent dean of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Newark medical school, campus officials announced today.

"It’s been a while," said Johnson, 64. "This school and university have been through a lot."

Johnson replaced former dean, Russell Joffe, nearly six years ago, expecting to fill the post for a few months while a national search identified a new dean for the 750-student medical school.

UMDNJ launched the search, but naming a new dean was put on the back burner while the university dealt with years of upheaval during a federal investigation into waste, fraud and mismanagement. The investigation led to a two-year federal takeover of the university and the appointment of a new president.

UMDNJ’s board launched a second national search for a new dean last year, including Johnson among the candidates. The board voted Tuesday to appoint Johnson permanent dean.

Johnson has a long history at UMDNJ, where he was the only African-American in New Jersey Medical School’s 1972 graduating class. He eventually became the school’s chairman of pediatrics.

"When I attended New Jersey Medical School I learned pediatrics from Dr. Johnson, so I can personally attest to his talents as an educator, mentor, and most important to his skills as a kind and compassionate physician," said Kevin Barry, chairman of UMDNJ’s board and an anesthesiologist.

Johnson, of Orange, will be paid $500,000 a year as dean, the same salary he earned in the interim job, campus officials said.

The dean said he has a long to-do list that includes preparing for the medical school’s accreditation in 2013 and guiding the school through a possible reorganization of UMDNJ. He also plans to take a close look at all of New Jersey Medical School’s departments.

"I want to do a thorough study of the school, mission by mission," Johnson said.

Earlier this year, a task force convened by Gov. Chris Christie recommended restructuring UMDNJ and giving Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, one of the university’s other schools, to Rutgers University.